Arts | Entertainment | Sports 2024: ANDY EDMUNDS

Edmunds originally began his career in the music industry. As a musician and song writer, he produced a video for MTV, and thus began his love affair with film production.

Today, he’s Virginia’s go-to guy for movie and TV projects being filmed in the state. As director of the Virginia Film Office since 2011, Edmunds helps land glitzy TV and film projects that touch all parts of the commonwealth’s economy, from buying office supplies to renting helicopters.

He’s worked with such top directors as Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott and Clint Eastwood, assisting filmmakers in securing economic incentives and tax breaks and smoothing the way for film crews to have a positive experience working in Virginia.

Most recently, this included paving the way for Universal Pictures’ coming-of-age musical “Atlantis,” inspired by music and fashion superstar Pharrell Williams’ childhood growing up in Virginia Beach. The film, which was shot this spring and summer at the beach and in the Richmond area, received about $12 million in state incentives.

Other recent projects have included two Apple+ shows, “Swagger,” filmed in Central Virginia and Hampton Roads, and “Dopesick,” based on Virginian Beth Macy’s best-selling book and filmed in Central Virginia and Clifton Forge.